Ketamine for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

Esketamine combined with a mindfulness-based intervention for individuals with alcohol problems

In a double-blind, randomised pilot study of 28 people with alcohol problems, sublingual esketamine (115.1 mg) combined with two weeks of daily mindfulness-based intervention increased psychological engagement with the practice and produced transient reductions in alcohol craving versus placebo. Esketamine also elicited greater mystical and dissociative experiences, suggesting these altered states may underlie enhanced engagement and potential therapeutic benefit.

Published: June 11, 2024
Journal: Journal of Psychopharmacology
Authors: Gent, E. M., Bryan, J. W., Cleary, M. A., Clarke, T. I., Holmwood, H. D., Nassereddine, R. O., Salway, C., Depla, S., Statton, S., Krecké, J., Morgan, C. J.

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Barriers to Esketamine Nasal Spray Treatment Among Adults With Treatment-Resistant Depression

This retrospective observational cohort study (n=966 esketamine initiators, n=39,219 controls) examines factors influencing esketamine initiation and continuation for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Initiators resided closer to treatment centres, with initiation rates decreasing significantly with distance. Factors associated with increased initiation included posttraumatic stress disorder, suicidal ideation, and male sex, while Medicaid, substance use disorder, older age, and greater distance were associated with lower initiation rates.

Published: May 6, 2024
Journal: Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
Authors: Joshi, K., Liberman, J. N., Parab, P., Darer, J. D., Harding, L.

Open Accessindividual

Factors Associated with Antidepressant Effects of Ketamine: A Reanalysis of Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of Intravenous Ketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression

Reanalysis of a placebo‑controlled double‑blind RCT of intravenous ketamine in 31 adults with treatment‑resistant depression found that later age of depression onset predicted a greater antidepressant response three days after infusion, whereas age, sex, baseline severity and dissociative scores showed no association. The authors propose that impaired glutamatergic signalling and reduced neuroplasticity in earlier‑onset cases may explain the diminished ketamine response.

Published: October 16, 2023
Journal: Pharmacopsychiatry
Authors: Yonezawa, K., Uchida, H., Yatomi, T., Ohtani, Y., Nomoto-Takahashi, K., Nakajima, S., Mimura, M., Tani, H., Ac, A.

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Ensuring the affordable becomes accessible-lessons from ketamine, a new treatment for severe depression

The paper uses ketamine as a case study to show that market and regulatory failures allowed a costly patented intranasal s‑ketamine (Spravato®) to be commercialised while inexpensive generic racemic ketamine—apparently at least as effective—remained under‑evaluated and largely inaccessible. The authors recommend systemic reforms, including commercial incentives, public and public–private funding, reduced regulatory barriers and coordinated international funding, to ensure affordable off‑patent treatments become accessible.

Published: October 13, 2023
Journal: Australian and new-zealand Journal of Psychiatry
Authors: Rodgers, A., Bahceci, D., Davey, C. G., Chatterton, M. L., Glozier, N., Hopwood, M., Loo, C.

Open Accessindividual

Nature-themed video intervention may improve cardiovascular safety of psilocybin-assisted therapy for alcohol use disorder

In a pilot randomised controlled trial of 20 participants with alcohol use disorder, viewing a nature-themed "Visual Healing" video during preparation and the ascent/descent phases of 25 mg psilocybin sessions was feasible, safe and well tolerated. Compared with standard procedures (eyeshades and music), Visual Healing significantly attenuated peak post‑psilocybin blood pressure increases while producing similar psychedelic effects and reductions in alcohol use.

Published: September 18, 2023
Journal: Frontiers in Psychiatry
Authors: Heinzerling, K. G., Sergi, K., Linton, M., Rich, R., Youssef, B., Bentancourt, I., Bramen, J., Siddarth, P., Schwartzberg, L., Kelly, D. F., Ahmed, S.

Open Accessindividual

Adjunctive Ketamine With Relapse Prevention-Based Psychological Therapy in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder

This double-blind placebo-controlled trial (n=96) assessed the effectiveness of 1) three weekly ketamine infusions (56mg/70kg i.v. over 40 minutes) plus psychological therapy, 2) three saline infusions plus psychological therapy, 3) three ketamine infusions plus alcohol education, or 4) three saline infusions plus alcohol education, in people with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Participants in the ketamine groups abstained from alcohol for a significantly longer number of days at 6-month follow-up, while the greatest abstinence was in the ketamine plus therapy group. Relapse times did not differ across the four groups.

Published: February 1, 2022
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry
Authors: Grabski, M., McAndrew, A., Lawn, W., Marsh, B., Raymen, L., Stevens, T., Hardy, L., Warren, F., Bloomfield, M., Borissova, A., Maschauer, E., Broomby, R., Coathup, R., Palmer, R., Hill, R., Harris, J., Mollaahmetoglu, O. M., Curran, H. V., Brandner, B., Lingford-Hughes, A., Morgan, C. J. A.

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Product

Legal

Ketamine

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

Academic Research

Esketamine combined with a mindfulness-based intervention for individuals with alcohol problems

Barriers to Esketamine Nasal Spray Treatment Among Adults With Treatment-Resistant Depression

Factors Associated with Antidepressant Effects of Ketamine: A Reanalysis of Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of Intravenous Ketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression

Ensuring the affordable becomes accessible-lessons from ketamine, a new treatment for severe depression

Nature-themed video intervention may improve cardiovascular safety of psilocybin-assisted therapy for alcohol use disorder

Adjunctive Ketamine With Relapse Prevention-Based Psychological Therapy in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder

Clinical Trials

ACT for Alcohol Use Disorder and Depression

Ketamine and Neurofeedback as Combined Therapeutic Interventions to Target Glutamatergic Neurotransmission in Alcohol Use Disorder (Nektar)

Psilocybin vs Ketamine for Alcohol Use Disorder (Psi vs Ket)

Psilocybin-Assisted vs Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy for Alcohol Use Disorder

Ketamine for Combined Depression and Alcohol Use Disorder (KeDA)

Ketamine for the Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder in the ED

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